Narrative:

I departed VFR from myf en route to bullhead city. I tracked the 076 degree radial out of mission bay to clear me through the TCA. The WX, however, deteriorated significantly and I had to turn back to better WX conditions to get an IFR clearance. I made a 180 degree right turn and headed back to myf. At this point there was a significant cloud in front of me and I was forced to make a climbing left turn to remain VFR for safety reasons. I climbed to 4500 ft clear of clouds in perfect VFR conditions at this point without realizing if I could not avoid penetrating the TCA without proper clearance. I also got in close proximity with a civil aviation airplane. I had the aircraft visual. He was approximately 500 ft above and passed me 1000-1500 ft north of my aircraft. I was already monitoring san diego departure on 119.6 and was aware of the traffic. I contacted approach on 119.6. They transferred me to 124.35. I then received my IFR clearance and proceeded with my flight as planned with no further incident. I had 2 passenger in the plane for whose safety I was responsible for. Without alarming my passenger, I had to avoid a possible emergency and chose a desirable outcome for the success of my flight. To prevent a recurrence of a situation like this, I will never again depart VFR in mixed or marginal conditions. Overall, I realize my planning was poor and to avoid this happening again, 'more time on the ground.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CLBS INTO SAN TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED VFR FROM MYF ENRTE TO BULLHEAD CITY. I TRACKED THE 076 DEG RADIAL OUT OF MISSION BAY TO CLR ME THROUGH THE TCA. THE WX, HOWEVER, DETERIORATED SIGNIFICANTLY AND I HAD TO TURN BACK TO BETTER WX CONDITIONS TO GET AN IFR CLRNC. I MADE A 180 DEG R TURN AND HEADED BACK TO MYF. AT THIS POINT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT CLOUD IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A CLBING L TURN TO REMAIN VFR FOR SAFETY REASONS. I CLBED TO 4500 FT CLR OF CLOUDS IN PERFECT VFR CONDITIONS AT THIS POINT WITHOUT REALIZING IF I COULD NOT AVOID PENETRATING THE TCA WITHOUT PROPER CLRNC. I ALSO GOT IN CLOSE PROX WITH A CIVIL AVIATION AIRPLANE. I HAD THE ACFT VISUAL. HE WAS APPROX 500 FT ABOVE AND PASSED ME 1000-1500 FT N OF MY ACFT. I WAS ALREADY MONITORING SAN DIEGO DEP ON 119.6 AND WAS AWARE OF THE TFC. I CONTACTED APCH ON 119.6. THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO 124.35. I THEN RECEIVED MY IFR CLRNC AND PROCEEDED WITH MY FLT AS PLANNED WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. I HAD 2 PAX IN THE PLANE FOR WHOSE SAFETY I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. WITHOUT ALARMING MY PAX, I HAD TO AVOID A POSSIBLE EMER AND CHOSE A DESIRABLE OUTCOME FOR THE SUCCESS OF MY FLT. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF A SITUATION LIKE THIS, I WILL NEVER AGAIN DEPART VFR IN MIXED OR MARGINAL CONDITIONS. OVERALL, I REALIZE MY PLANNING WAS POOR AND TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, 'MORE TIME ON THE GND.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.